Mary Hile-Nepfel still lies in bed at night, contemplating strategy and personnel adjustments. But she quickly falls into a deep slumber. Not like before.

"I'd lay awake all night and then get up and re-watch video," she said. "I definitely don't do that anymore."

The transition from West Coast Conference Hall of Fame women's basketball coach at USF to University High School girls coach has been smooth, peaceful and even enlightening.

The 54-year-old had been out of interscholastic coaching since leaving USF in 2006, but got the itch to go back last spring while coaching an eighth-grade AAU team at the Olympic Club. One of her players told her the University job had opened up and one thing led to another.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be coaching high school basketball after I left USF," Hile-Nepfel said. "I had other opportunities to coach over the years, but the school, their academics, their philosophies - everything just aligned. ... I'm so grateful for the opportunity University has given me."

With a 17-9 record and fifth seed heading into Wednesday's North Coast Section Division V opener at home against Upper Lake (16-11), the Red Devils haven't been world beaters by any means.

But the players know they are receiving training and mentoring that are as good as it gets at the high school level. Certainly, few coaches have more impressive credentials.

In 19 seasons at USF, Hile-Nepfel won 270 games, three WCC titles and led the Dons to three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. As a player, she is USF's all-time leading scorer (men or women) with 2,324 points and is the career women's rebound leader (1,602). She was the first woman to be inducted into the USF Hall of Fame (1986).

"When we first heard that she was going to coach us, we were sort of in shock," University High senior guard and captain Gabby Chua said. "But we found out right away that our values fit. More than wins and losses, we were focused on being a team and sportsmanship and having respect for ourselves and opponents."

Many of the players didn't know of their new coach's credentials. "I think they got a better sense when parents and referees greeted me at games," she said.

And they got a keen sense last week when Hile-Nepfel took the Red Devils to a USF game.

"Her name was on the wall as a coach or player with every record and championship," Chua said. "It was insane."

Hile-Nepfel said coaching high school players isn't much different from instructing Division I athletes. "Coaching was always just teaching to me," Hile-Nepfel said. "And that's what I'm doing - teaching. The girls here learn fast, pay attention and work hard."

Chua said Hile-Nepfel's experience shows most in late in games. "She's always real calm and she always calls just the right play," she said. "We know we're in good hands at the end of games. Actually, we're always in good hands."

Lick is champion: Lick-Wilmerding (23-3) has been the class of the Bay Counties League West girls season, finishing with a 63-57 win over International in the playoff final Saturday. Lick has been led by freshmen Ayzhiana Basallo (15.7 points per game) and Maya Burris (14.0) and senior Aki Shurelds (12.7). Winner of 16 straight, Lick hosts Fortuna (15-11) at 8 p.m. Wednesday in a first-round NCS Division IV playoff game.